Stoop form with pivotal core



1966 J. c. HULICKI 3,269,688

STOOP FORM WITH PIVOTAL CORE Filed June 16, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR John C. HuLl'cKi ATTORNEYS 0, 1966 J. c. HULICKI 3,269,688

STOOP FORM WITH PIVOTAL CORE Filed June 16, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Z4 32 I5 "4 INVENTOR L John C. HuHcKi .cement to repair the appearance.

United States Patent 3,269,688 STOOP FORM WITH PIVOTAL CORE John C. 'Hulicki, Wallingford, Conn., assignor to The United Step of Wallingford Inc., Wallingford, Conn. Filed June 16, 1964, Ser. No. 375,577 Claims. (Cl. 249-14) This invention relates to concrete forms and more particularly relates to forms for making concrete stoops such as may be used to provide steps and a platform before an entranceway.

As used herein the term stoop refers to a concrete structure comprising a plurality of steps leading to an entranceway and such stoop may or may not include a platform portion at the top of the steps. Forms for molding concrete stoops in an integral shell-like unit have heretofore been utilized, and such forms have provided an advance over on-site molding of concrete stoops. The latter steps require a form to be constructed on the site and must be cast substantially solid. The material of the forms, usually lumber, may in some cases be reused a limited number of times .to make other forms but is usually scrapped after one or a few uses.

The on-site technique of molding concrete stoops for entranceways has at least in part given way to production of precast stoops, some with integral platforms, at a central location or concrete molding operation, and subsequent transportation of the precast stoop to its ultimate site. This precasting of the stoop results .in substantial savings in material and labor since the precast structure may be molded hollow and the forms reused indefinitely.

Such stoop forms basically comprise an inner core member which provides the inner sides, treads and risers of the steps and the underside .of the platform; outer sidewall members; and members extending across the sidewall members defining the outer surfaces of the risers. These various elements forming the mold have been secured .together by means of bolts and nuts and various spacing and securing elements to provide an assembled molding form. When the stoop has been molded and the concrete sufficiently cured the form is dismantled so that the molded stoop may be removed from the form. The disassembly of the form however is time-consuming and removal of the inner core from the hollow shell may be quite laborious. In the presently known forms, the molded stoop with the inner core therein is jacked up and set on blocks and the core is forced out of the molded stoop, usually by striking it repeated blows to drive it downwardly and break it loose from the molded stoop.

The blows to the core may cause shock stress in the molded shell producing cracks or chips therein which require subsequent scrubbing with wet concrete or Also, it is entirely possible, if care is not properly exercised, that the molded article might be cracked to such an extent as to be rendered unusable. In some instances the inner core has been constructed in a plurality of parts which must be disassembled to remove the core from the molded article andthen reassembled for a subsequent molding operation.

In view of the aforementioned deficiencies and limitations of known forms for precasting or molding concrete stoops, the present invention provides a new and improved form of the general type described which may be rapidly assembled into an operative structure and which may be rapidly opened to allow access to and facilitate removal of the cast article, while minimizing if not eliminating, the possibility of damage to the molded article.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide a new and improved form of the type described.

Another object of the invention is to provide a form of "Ice the type described having new .and improved means for arranging the parts thereof into operative relationship.

Another object of this invention is .to provide a form of the type described having new and improved means for facilitating removal of the cast article therefrom while minimizing the possibility of damage to the molded article.

A further object of the invention is to provide a new and improved form of the type described wherein the form-defining elements are so constructed and arranged as to facilitate assembly and disassembly thereof and minimize the overall time required in casting an article, thus providing greater utilization of the form.-

The features of the invention which are believed to be novel are set forth with particularity and definitely claimed in the concluding portion of this specification. However, the invention both as to construction and operation together with further objects and advantages thereof may best be appreciated by reference to the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment thereof taken in conjunction with the drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a form embodying the invention;

FIG. 2 is .a perspective view of a hollow concrete stoop molded in the form of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the stoop of FIG. I seen longitudinally therethrough and having a stoop therein;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view seen along line-44 of FIG. 3; v 1

FIG. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary view of a detail of construction of the sidewalls and base of the form; and

FIG. 6 is a rear view of a modified form with the sidewalls of the form in an open or inoperative position,,and further illustrating means that are provided for removing the inner core of the form from a molded stoop.

A form embodying the invention is generally identified by the reference numeral 10 and is constructed and arranged to mold a hollow shell-like concrete stoop 11, as exemplified in FIG. 2. The stoop 111,- as illustrated, comprises steps 12 having risers 13 and treads-14, a platform 15 and sidewalls 16. As illustrated, the stoop 11 is molded hollow to conserve material. Also as illustrated, for a more pleasing appearance, the treads 14 may be formed to have portions 17 project beyond the sidewalls and risers to provide a more pleasing appearance. Also, the platform may have projections 18 beyond the .top riser and the sidewalls.

The illustrated form 10 is designed to mold .a stoop having four risers prior to the platform. However, it will be understood that a form embodying the invention may be designed for any number and size steps and for any length platform. The form generally comprises a base member 19 which is of generally rectangular'configuration, a core member 20 which defines thejnterior sides of the risers, treads, sidewalls and platform.- For structural purposes beam-defining troughs 21 may be provided in the platform section of the core so that when the stoop is molded reinforcing beams will be provided across the underside of the platform. Additionally, if it is so de-,

sired rod-like mesh reinforcing elements (not shown) may be placed in the troughs 21 prior to molding of the stoop and steel wire or mesh reinforcement (not shown) may be placed in any or all portions of the form.

As most clearly shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 the core 20 is pivotally mounted at one end thereof to the base and is constructed and arranged to be lowered beneath the plane of the upper surfaces of the base about the pivotproviding pins 22 for reasons hereinafter explained. The form further comprises outer sidewall members 23 and 24 which define the outer sides of the form, and riserdefining members 25 which define the outer surfaces of the risers of the steps. The riser-defining members'ZS are arranged to extend across core 20 and be secured to sidewall members 23 and 24 in spaced relation to riser-defining portions 26 of the core 20. Members 25 are provided with extending lugs or projections 27 at either end thereof which mate with complementary laterally extending lugs or projections 28 on sidewall members 23 and 24. The lugs 27 and 28 are shown as being provided with apertures 29 and 30, respectively, arranged to receive a nut and bolt or pin therethrough so that the members 25 may be secured to the sidewall members. While a pin or nut and bolt may be utilized to retain riser-defining members 25 to the sidewalls 23 and 24, in practice it is preferred that the projections 27 and 28 be clamped together with the use of C-clamps, not shown, in order that assembly and disassembly of the form is facilitated. In this case, the apertures in the projections 27 and 28 may be utilized to accurately position members 25 with respect to the sidewalls 23 and 24 and the core 20. This is accomplished merely by aligning the apertures and then clamping the projections together with the C-clamp.

As will hereinafter be more fully explained the sidewalls 23 and 24 are pivotally mounted to base 19. When the sidewalls are placed in position for a molding operation, they are retained in such position by one or more strap members 31 to prevent any tendency towards outward movement of the sidewalls due to loading of the form when concrete is poured therein. As illustrated the strap members 31 have depending arm portions 31a which engage the outer sides of both sidewalls and prevent outward movement thereof.

An end closure member 32 is provided to fit into the spaces between core 20 and sidewalls 23 and 24 and thereby close the back sides of the form and also determine the length of the platform 15. Closure member 32 may be provided with locating pins 33 and 34 adapted to be received in apertures 35 in sidewalls 23 and 24 and complementary apertures 36 in base 19 to predetermine the position of member 32.

As most clearly seen in FIGS. 3 and 4, members 25 may be provided with L-sha-ped flanges 37 or have an angle member welded thereto and the sidewalls 23 and 24 may be similarly constructed with L-shaped flanges 38. The flanges 37 and 38 in each case extend outwardly from the core 20 and define and confine the projections 17 and 18 of the treads and platform of the molded stoop. It will be understood that the form may be constructed such that there would be no overhang or projection of the platform and treads in which case the L-shaped flanges 37 and 38 would not be provided.

Base member 19 is generally rectangular in configuration and in'the illustrated embodiment of the invention comprises channel-like members 40 on the lateral and step sides thereof which define a surface 39 which closes the form at the bottom thereof. The base member 19 is generally hollow to allow core member 20 to be lowered therein. The lateral side channels may be secured at the rear ends thereof by a tie-bar or other means extending therebetween. Alternatively, an additional channel member 41 having the upper flange thereof at least partially removed is utilized.

In accordance with one aspect of the invention the core 20 is arranged to be positively lowered into the base to break the core from a molded stoop. Means are provided to exert a downward force on the core. Mounted to base 19 on member 41 thereof is a bracket 42 supporting thereon a large nut 43 threaded internally thereof. 'I'hreada-bly received in nut 43 is a threaded stud or shaft 44 which is fixedly secured at'one. end 45 thereof to the rear platform-defining portion of core 20. .The purpose of this construction is to provide a force multiplying or power means for forcibly lowering core 20 with respect to the base 19 and sidewalls 23 and 24 to break the core away from the molded stoop. As previously mentioned the opposite or step end of core 20. is pivotally mounted to frame, 19, thus when shaft 44 is rotated as by means of lever 46 in the appropriate direction shaft 44 will move downwardly through nut 43 and pivot core 20 about pin 22 and thus pull core 20 downwardly with respect to the molded stoop as most clearly exemplified in FIG. 3. To accommodate the curving motion of the back end of core 20 the support bracket 42 and shaft 44 are angled slightly with respect to the vertical to prevent any binding on the threads of nut 43 and shaft 44. It will be apparent, however, that this presents no real problem when it is realized that the core 20 is only dropped a sufficient distance to break it away from the interior of the molded article, which distance may only be a few inches or less and the distance between pivot pin 22 and the end 45 of shaft 44 may exceed 10 ft. Utilizing the hinged arrangement to pull or force the core down with respect to the molded article and the power multiplication means enables a substantially steady downward force to be exerted on core 20 which will break the core 20 loose from the molded stoop without exerting any undue pressures or stresses on the molded stoop.

Alternate means for pulling the core loose from a molded article is illustrated in FIG. 6.

A power-multiplying means 48 com-prises a shaft 49 having right-handed threads 50 along one portion of its length and left-handed threads 51 along another portion of its length. Threads 50 are threadably received in a nut 52, and threads 51 are threadably received in a nut 53. Pivotally connected to nut 52 are levers 54 and 55 in turn pivotally connected to base 19 and core 20 at 56 and 57, respectively. Nut 53 is provided with similar levers and similar pivotal connections identified 'by the same reference numerals. Shaft .49 is either provided with or has formed integrally therewith a crank handle 5-8. Upon rotation of shaft 49 through crank handle 58 the nuts 52 and 53 will either advance on threads 50 and 51, respectively, toward each other and exert a downward force on core 20, or if rotated in the opposite direction will retract from each other and move core 20 upwardly to position it for a molding operation.

Sidewalls 23 and 24 are pivotally mounted to Ibase member 19 by means of a plurality of pivotal hingelike connections thereto. Each sidewall member 23 and 24 is provided with a plurality of brackets 60 along the length thereof adjacent the base 19. Each of the brackets is generally of inverted L-shape and extends beyond the side sills of the base and then downwardly, as most clearly seen in FIG. 5. Mounted on base 19 and extending outwardlytherefrom are brackets 61, each arranged to mate with one of brackets 60. One of brackets 60 or 61 is provided with an aperture carrying a hinge-providing pin, while the other of the brackets has defined therein a slot receiving the pin. As illustrated, bracket 60 carries a pin 62 which is received in slot 63 in a bracket 61 extending laterally outwardly from the base in a vertical plane. Slots 63 are of elongated configuration and directed diagonally downwardly from the base. When it is desired to move the sidewalls away from the molded article the sidewalls are pulled away from the molded stoop 11. This causes pin 62 to move both outwardly and downwardly with respect to the molded stoop. The importance of such motion. is best appreciated by noting that a portion of the L-shaped flanges 38 on sidewalls 23 and 24 matingly underlie projections 17 and 18 on the platform and treads of the stoop. By virtue of the relative position of the sidewalls on platform 15 and pins 62, which is laterally displaced therefrom, the L-shapedflanges 38 would normally bind on the projections and crack or break the projections as the sidewalls are swung away'from the molded stoop if the pins 62 were fixed in-position. However, with the construction disclosed, the sidewalls move outwardly and downwardly from the molded stoop and the projections 17 and 18 thereon without contacting themolded stoop and thus permit and greatly facilitate removal of the sidewalls 23 and 24 from the molded stoop 11. After removal of the molded stoop the sidewalls may be rapidly positioned for another molding operation. Pins 62 in slots 63 prevent inward tipping of the sidewalls when raised for a molding operation and serve to operatively position the sidewalls.

It will be apparent that either of the brackets 60 or 61 could carry the pin 62 and the other provide the slot 63. In practice the pin '62 may be a threaded bolt secured by a nut (not shown). Structural reinforcing elements exemplified by angle 64 and channel 65 may be provided along the length of sidewall members 23 and 24 to prevent the tendency of the sidewalls to bow under load.

As previously stated, the base 19 through the upper surface 39 thereof, provides the bottom closure member for the disclosed form. The unitary core 20 provides the inner walls of the mold for the hollow stoop. As shown in FIG. 4, when the core 20 is raised about the pivot pins 22 to position core 20 for a molding opera tion, the sidewalls thereof, which are set at a taper, engage the edges of the base-defining side sill members 40 and close this joint to prevent escape of concrete therebetween. The riser of the lowest step of the core will likewise engage the front end sill. It will be noted that the tapered sidewalls of core 20 facilitate the core to being dropped or pulled downwardly within base 19.

The hinging of core 20 to base 19 is accomplished by the provision of mating brackets 66 and 67 (FIG. 1) on core 20 and base 19, respectively, having complementary apertures therethrough to receive a hinge pin-providing member indicated by the reference numeral 22. The hinge pin-providing member may comprise a bolt through the brackets 66 and 67 secured by a nut, not shown. It will be noted (FIG. 3) that the pivot point 22 for core 20 is below surface 39, and beyond the step end of the core as exemplified by the distance d (FIG. 3). The pivotal axis of the core should be at or beyond the downward projection of the corner 68 of the first step of core 20. This arrangement ensures that when core 20 is forced downwardly there will be no component of motion of the core which would cause the core 20 to engage the molded object. Additionally the riser-defining portions 26 of core 20 are set at a slight taper with respect to the vertical to facilitate parting of riser portions 26 of the core from a molded stoop.

It may thus be seen that the objects of the invention set forth as well as those made apparent are efficiently attained. While a preferred embodiment of the invention has been set forth for purposes of disclosures, other embodiments of the invention as well as modifications to the disclosed embodiments may occur to those skilled in the art, which do not depart from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the appended claims are intended to cover all embodiments of the invention which do not depart from the spirit and scope thereof.

What is claimed is:

1. A concrete form comprising a base member providing a bottom form closure surface in an elevated horizontal plane, said base member having spaced apart side sills and at least one end sill, a core member, said core member being pivotally mounted at one end thereof to said base member at said end sill and being pivotal through said plane within said side sills, means at the other end of said core member for moving said core about said pivotal mounting between a molding position and a lowered position which allows removal of said core from a molded object and outer sidewall means carried by said base member and cooperating with said core to define the form.

2. The form of claim 1 including hinge means pivotally mounting said sidewall means on said base on either side of said core.

3. A concrete form comprising a base member having spaced apart side sills and at least one end sill, said base member having an elevated horizontal surface which provides a bottom closure member for said form, a core member, said core member being pivotally mounted adjacent one end thereof to said base member at said one end sill on an axis below said surface and coinciding with or being beyond a plane defining said one end of said core, means at the other end of said core member for moving said core about said pivotal mounting between a molding position and a lower position between said side sills which allows removal of a molded object from said core, and means carried by said base member and cooperating with said core to define the form.

4. A concrete form comprising a base member having spaced apart side sills defining an elevated horizontal sur face providing a bottom closure for said form and at least one end sill, a core member, said core member being pivotally mounted at one end thereof to said base member at said one end sill, means at the other end of said core member for moving said core about said pivotal mounting between a molding position and a lower position between said side sills which allows removal of a molded object from said core, and outer sidewall means carried by said base member and cooperating with said core to define the form, said sidewalls having a hinged connection to said base member, said hinge connection comprising a first bracket member extending outwardly from said sidewalls and downwardly along the side of said base member, a second bracket member extending outwardly from said base member, one of said brackets carrying a hinge pin therein, the other of said brackets having an elongated pin-receiving slot therein extending diagonally downwardly from said sidewall member and receiving said hinge pin therein so that said hinge pin in said slot limits movement of a sidewall member towards said core member and said pin may move outwardly and vertically in said slot to allow said sidewall members to be swung away from said core.

5. A form for molding a concrete stoop as an integral shell-like unit having sidewalls, a platform and steps including treads and risers, comprising a rectangular base member having an elevated surface defining a bottom closure for said form, an inner core member having walls defining the inner sides of the sidewalls, treads, risers and platform, said core member having its step-defining end pivotally mounted to said base member, means at the other end of said core member for pivoting said core member downwardly with respect to said base member through the plane defining said surface, outer sidewall members on said base member, and riser-defining members adapted to extend across said core member in spaced relation to riser-defining walls thereof and arranged to be attached to said outer sidewall members.

6. A form for molding a concrete stoop as an integral shell-like unit having sidewalls, a platform and steps including treads and risers, comprising a rectangular base member defining an elevated surface which provides a bottom closure for said form, an inner core member having walls defining the inner sides of the sidewalls, treads, risers and platform, said core member having its step-defining end pivotally mounted to said base member, means at the other end of said core member for pivoting said core member downwardly with respect to said base member through the plane of said surface, outer sidewall members on said base member, and riser-defining members adapted to extend across said core member in spaced relation to riser-defining walls thereof and arranged to be attached to said outer sidewall members, said pivotal mounting of said core member to said base being below said surface.

7. A form for molding a concrete stoop as an integral shell-like unit having sidewalls, a platform and steps including treads and risers, comprising a rectangular base member having an elevated surface providing a bottom closure for said form, an inner core member having walls defining the inner sides of the sidewalls, treads,

risers and platform, said core member having its stepdefining end pivotally mounted to said base member, means at the other end of said core member for pivoting said core member downwardly with respect to said base member through a plane including said surface, outer sidewall members on said base member, and riserdefining members adapted to extend across said core member in spaced relation to riser-defining walls thereof and arranged to be attached to said outer sidewall members, said base member defining the bottom closure of said form, said outer sidewall members having a hinged connection to said base, said hinge connection comprising a first bracket member extending outwardly from said sidewalls and downwardly along the side of said base member, a second bracket member extending outwardly from said base member, one of said brackets carrying a hinge pin therein, the other of said brackets having an elongated pin-receiving slot therein extending diagonally downwardly from said sidewall member and receiving said hinge pin therein, so that said hinge pin in said slot limits movement of a sidewall member towards said core member and said pin may move outwardly and vertically in said slot to allow said sidewall members to be swung away from said core.

8. A form for molding a concrete stoop as an integral shell-like unit having sidewalls, treads and risers 'with the treads projecting laterally beyond said sidewalls, comprising a generally rectangular 'base member, an inner core member, outer sidewall members, and riser-defining members adapted to extend between said sidewall members in spaced relation to the riser-defining portions of said core, said sidewalls having means along the upper edges thereof to support and confine the projecting portions of a stoop, said base member carrying said core member thereon and said sidewall members thereon on either side of said core member in spaced relation thereto and providing the bottom closure of the spaces between said core member and said sidewall members, hinge means pivotally mounting said sidewall members on said base, said mounting means being constructed and arranged so that said hinge means move downwardly and outwardly with respect to the form as said sidewall members are pivoted outwardly from said core member so that said sidewalls may clear the laterally projecting portions of a stoop in said form.

9. The form of claim 8 wherein said hinge means comprising a first bracket member extending outwardly from said sidewalls and downwardly along the side of said base member, a second bracket extending outwardly from said base member, one of said brackets carrying a hinge pin therein, the other of said brackets having an elongated pin-receiving slot therein extending diagonally downwardly from said sidewall member and receiving said hinge pin therein so that said hinge pin in said slot limits movement of a sidewall towards said core member and may move outwardly and vertically in said slot to allow said sidewall members to be swung away from said core. 10. The form of claim 9 wherein said hinge pin is carried by said first bracket.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 904,098 11/ 1908 Storms 249163 916,689 3/1909 Faulkner 249163 2,633,620 4/1953 Kogl 24914 2,857,646 10/ 1958 McLoughlin 24914 3,136,024 6/ 1964 LaMonica 24966 3,141,222 7/1964 Steiro 25-30 3,204,316 9/ 1965 Jackson 249 J. SPENCER OVERHOLSER, Primary Examiner.

G. A. KAP, R. D. BALDWIN, Assistant Examiners.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3,269,688 August 30, 1966 John C. Hulicki It is hereby certified that error appears in the above numbered patent requiring correction and that the said Letters Patent should read as corrected below.

Column 5 line 38 for "distance d" read distance d column 6, lines 15 and 16, strike out "defining an elevated horizontal surface providing a bottom closure for said form", and insert the same after "end sill" in line 17, same column 6.

Signed and sealed this 1st day of August 1967.

(SEAL) Attest:

EDWARD M.FLETCHER,JR. EDWARD J BRENNER Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patents 

1. A CONCRETE FORM COMPRISING A BASE MEMBER PROVIDING A BOTTOM FORM CLOSURE SURFACE IN AN ELEVATED HORIZONTAL PLANE, SAID BASE MEMBER HAVING SPACED APART SIDE WALLS AND AT LEAST ONE END SILL, A CORE MEMBER, SAID CORE MEMBER BEING PIVOTALLY MOUNTED AT ONE END THEREOF TO SAID BASE MEMBER AT SAID END STILL BEING PIVOTAL THROUGH SAID PLANE WITHIN SAID SIDE SILLS, MEANS AT THE OTHER END OF SAID CORE MEMBER FOR MOVING SAID CORE 